Soap operas, it turns out, can change the world (South Australia)

Bill Ryerson

President, Population Media Center

Thursday 19th November at 7pm

Conservation Council of SA, 111 Franklin St Adelaide

Soap operas, it turns out, can change the world

The Population Media Center works in 43 countries changing behaviour to enhance the health and welfare of people using culturally appropriate health, human rights, environmental and economic information. It uses long-running serialised radio and TV dramas (the Sabido method) developed using local writers, actors and production staff. PMC is a non-profit, international non-governmental organisation which strives to improve the health and well-being of people around the world.

PMC’s work has produced dramatic results; its method is incredibly cost effective. Its approach builds in-country, in-community capacity and supports all local writers and producers. PMC knows that the planet and its resources are finite and it cannot support an infinite population of humans or any other species, yet everyday 225,000 more hungry people sit at the global dinner table. PMC offers population as part of the solution to many global challenges. It changes population projections by working to empower women, men and children by addressing health and human rights issues, like ending child marriage and allowing girls to access education.

To educators, social welfare advocates, those concerned with sexual equity, racial, ethnic or religious tension, incitement to terrorism, environmental/ economic issues; the work, methods and results of the PMC are highly relevant to all those concerned with bringing about necessary and pressing social change.